Plant field guide
Red Maple (Autumn Blaze)
The most popular shade tree in North America — a hybrid of red and silver maple combining fast growth, reliability, and reliably spectacular orange-red fall color. Significantly faster and more heat-tolerant than pure red maple.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 360 in (914 cm) – 600 in (1524 cm)
- Spread
- 240 in (610 cm) – 360 in (914 cm)
- Spacing
- 240 in (610 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 3–8; average annual extreme minimum from -40°F (-40.0°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: March, April, October, November.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Grows 3–5 feet per year when young — one of the fastest shade trees available. Root system can be aggressive near sidewalks and underground pipes. Fall color is reliable even in areas where red maples don't color well.
Pruning
Prune in late fall or early spring. Avoid pruning in late spring when 'bleeding' (sap flow) is excessive. Remove dead, crossed, or rubbing branches.
Fertilizer
Balanced slow-release
Young trees only — established trees rarely need fertilizer
Mulch
4–6 inches of mulch in a wide ring; critically important in first 2 years.